Literature Night 2020 Final Report — Šaloun Studio I INTRODUCTION
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www.nocliteratury.cz fb/noci.literatury Literature Night 2020 Final Report — Šaloun studio I INTRODUCTION Contemporary literature, unusual places, familiar faces: this is a literary happening called the Literature Night, which, in attractive or commonly inaccessible places brings excerpts from European writers’ new books, presented by well-known actors, to the general public. A unique combination of an unusual place, distinctive interpretation and literary text offers a unique cultural experience and an opportunity to learn about contemporary European authors’ thinking. Indeed, the Literature Night event has become an integral part of the Czech cultural scene. Its target group is not strictly defined; the project is intended for the general public and includes all age and social groups. It is a non-profit event and admission is free. Literature Night 2020 (2) Since 2006, the Literature Night project has been organized by the Czech Centres in cooperation with EUNIC (Association of National Cultural Institutes of EU Countries), foreign embassies, and the Labyrint publishing house. The aim of the event is to increase public interest in contemporary European fiction, showing its art forms and creativity. Moreover, it highlights the importance of multilingualism and the value of translating from large and small languages. This year, reading chapters from selected works presented 20 contemporary authors from 18 European countries in Czech translation; Ukrainian literature was included for the second time and Romani literature for the third time. Since 2013, more and more Czech cities have participated in the project through SKIP, and their number is increasing every year. I n addition, in cooperation with the Czech Centres abroad, numerous E uropean and non-European cities participate in the Literature Night. The project is gradually expanding and has become a cultural event with international reach. Literature Night 2020 (3) II NEW IN 2020 The 14th year of the Literature Night was extraordinary from the beginning of the preparations: the original spring term changed to autumn, and many more things had to be adapted to the ccurrent circumstances. A record number of cities signed up to participate in 2020, not only libraries but also various cultural facilities. However, as a result of government regulations, their number has naturally decreased. The time gained was used to produce a new website prepared by the IT department of the Czech Centres. A great benefit was theincreased activity on social networks, especially in the form of short video spots, which presented two new books on Facebook every week. The author of the video spots is Františka Bakošová. Due to travel restrictions, some authors sent short greetings, which were posted on social networks or screened as part of the reading. The Literature Night established cooperation with the Prague Film Academy of Performing Arts FAMU, and its students created records of all readings during the whole evening, thus capturing the atmosphere of the LN 202 0 in Pragu e. Ukraine took part in the Literature Night 2020 for the second time. For the third time, Romani literature was presented at the Literature Night. Due to hygienic measures, the number of seats at individual reading venues was limited, and visitors consistently used face masks and disinfectant. Literature Night 2020 (4) Literature Night 2020 (5) III B OOKS PRESENTED IN 2020 Country Author/book Translator Publisher Belgium Stefan Hertmans Veronika ter Harmsel Havlíková Argo 2020 War and Turpentine Danmark Anne Cathrine Bomannová Lada Halounová Host 2019 Agathe Estonia Andrus Kivirähk Naděžda Slabihoudová Kniha Zlín 2011 The Man Who Spoke Snakish France Albert Camus/Jacques Ferrandez Petr Himmel Garamond 2020 Stranger Ireland Kevin Barry Alena Dvořáková Argo 2016 City of Bohane Italy Domenico Starnone Alice Flemrová Kniha Zlín 2019 Ties Hungary Péter Esterházy Robert Svoboda Dybbuj 2019 My Lady Pancreas Germany Nino Haratischwili Michaela Škultéty Host 2020 The Eighth Life: (for Brilka) Netherlands Roman Helinski Blanka Juranová Plus 2018 The Waffle Factory Norway Gunstein Bakke Marta Bartošková Argo 2019 Expectant Poland Wiesław Myśliwski Lenka Kuhar Daňhelová Havran 2020 Horizon Portugal José Eduardo Agualusa Lada Weissová Triáda 2020 The Book of Chameleons Austria Marlene Haushofer Kateřina Lepic Revolver revue 2019 The Wall Slovakia Vanda Rozenbergová Slovart 2018 Three Deaths are Sailing Spain Antonio Muñoz Molina Vladimír Medek LEDA 2018 The Polish Rider Sweden Patrik Svensson Martin Severýn Kniha Zlín 2020 The Gospel of the Eels Switzerland Gianna Molinari Marta Eich Archa 2020 Anything Could Happen Here Ukraine Vladimir Rafejenko Jekaterina Gazukina Větrné mlýny 2019 Long Times Tereza Chlaňová Great Britain Kate Atkinsonová Veronika Volhejnová Argo 2019 Transcription Romani Andrej Giňa Jana Kramářová Triáda 2013 Pať iv Karolína Ryvolová Literature Night 2020 (6) IV LITERATURE NIGHT IN PRAGUE OCTOBER 7th, 2020 PRAGUE 10 – VRŠOVICE & KRÁLOVSKÉ VINOHRADY During the Literature Night in Prague, literature always comes to life in a different district, which also co-organizes the whole event. This year, it was Prague 10 and its parts Vršovice and Královské Vinohrady. Traditionally, the project was financially supported by the City Hall of Prague. OPENING The reason for cooperation with Prague 10 was, among other things, to commemorate the 130th anniversary of the birth of Karel Čapek, who lived in this part of the city. The Literature Night 2020 was also officially opened on October 7th in the premises of the House of the Čapek brothers with the participation of the Prague 10 district’s officials, journalists, and other guests. The Literature Night 2020 became the last large-scale public event in Prague before the launch of government anti-epidemic measures and took place in strict compliance with hygiene regulations. Literature Night 2020 (7) TRADITION & ALTERNATIVE The Literature Night reading venues are selected, among other things, to highlight the specific nature of the hosting city district. The 2020 event in Vršovice and Královské Vinohrady was called Tradition and Alternative, which characterizes the given area well. Just as traditional themes were intertwined with new perspectives in the twenty selected books, in this part of the city, during the Literature Night, traditional venues were mixed, in a unique way, with those to which the fresh content brought new life. TRADITION — The Vršovice Sokol Gym Literature Night 2020 (8) — Church of St. Wenceslas — Karel Čapek Primary School Literature Night 2020 (9) — Vršovice Literary Centre Waldes — Two Antiquarians Literature Night 2020 (10) — The Pavilion in the Herold’s Park — Šaloun Studio Literature Night 2020 (11) — Café Šlágr ALTERNATIVE — Noise Kitchen Literature Night 2020 (12) — Unusual Clubroom — Polevku.cz Literature Night 2020 (13) — Xoaxax — Vršovice Garden Literature Night 2020 (14) — Rybalka — Studio Krymská Literature Night 2020 (15) — Modern Art Gallery — Petrohradská Collective Literature Night 2020 (16) — Svět Hub Literature Night 2020 (17) TRADITIONAL & NEW AUDIENCES Over the years, the Lite rature Nig ht has earned its traditio nal and loyal aud ience ; how e ver, t he year 2 02 0 sa w a large in crease in the num ber o f y oung visito rs. Thi s may be attribute d to the p re sen t situation, b ut also to th e succes sful sele ction of rea di ng ven ues, campaigns on social networks , and yo ung peop le ’s growing inte rest in litera ture and e ve nts happening in Europe. Literature Night 2020 (18) Literature Night 2020 (19) V OLUNTEERS – ASSISTANTS AT READING VENUES Due to the difficult situation and distance learning in schools, there were concerns about whether a sufficient numberof volunteers - assistants at reading positions - would join the Literature Night. This year their role was more demanding than in previous years; they had an additional job of enforcing hygienic measures, inspecting face masks, and providing disinfectant. This required extraordinary flexibility, commitment, and independence. Despite the lower number of participants, the team of 37 assistants did an admirable job, and, thanks to their great contribution, the Literature Night 2020 went smoothly and safely. Literature Night 2020 (20) Literature Night 2020 (21) Literature Night 2020 (22) FAMU AND A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT LITERATURE NIGHT 2020 The Czech Centres managed to establish cooperation with the Film Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) through the Department of P roduction and Camer a. Thanks to this school, students of all FAMU study fields participated in the creation of a unique documentary on the Literature Night 2020. Naturally, the project’s implementation team will continue to be interested in cooperating with FAMU in the coming years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV_ZDxO32TQ & feature=youtu.be Literature Night 2020 (23) LITERATURE NIGHT IN PRAGUE – PROGRAMME Venue Country Author/book Performer Šaloun Studio Belgium Stefan Hertmans Václav Jílek War and Turpentine Rybalka Danmark Anne Cathrine Bomannová Hanuš Bor Agathe The Pavilion in Herold’s Park Estonia Andrus Kivirähk Ondřej Pavelka The Man Who Spoke Snakish Studio Krymská France Albert Camus/ Vojtěch Vondráček Jacques Ferrandez Stranger Café Sladkovsky* Irland Kevin Barry Simona Babčáková* City of Bohane Polevku. cz Italy Domenico Starnone Lenka Krobotová Ties Hus’ House Hungary Péter Esterházy Ivan Trojan My Lady Pancreas Café Šlágr Germany Nino Haratischwili Berenika Kohoutová The Eighth Life: (for Brilka)